Defender Official Vehicle Partner for Glastonbury 2023
June 22, 2023
Defender will be at the heart of one of the world’s greatest live music event as the Official Vehicle Partner of the 2023 Glastonbury Festival.
When in electric mode, a fleet of 20 Defender 110 electric hybrids will transport headline artists to and from their performances in hushed, zero-emissions comfort at Worthy Farm in Somerset from 21-25 June – in whatever conditions the British summer throws at them.
Defender’s legendary all-terrain ability makes it perfect for Glastonbury’s rural landscape. The Eavis family, who run the farm and have been organising the Festival for over 50 years, have a long association with the Defender brand. The sight of founder Michael Eavis navigating his way around the site at the wheel of a classic Defender will be familiar to regular Festival goers.
The unstoppable new Defender will make sure headline acts get to the legendary Pyramid Stage on time, with its ability to tap into its incredible power and control on any terrain when operating in electric-only mode.
Defender’s air suspension can switch to off-road height to clear festival obstacles. There’s an extra 75mm of clearance, plus a further 70mm for extreme off-road conditions.
The P400e electric hybrid is capable of a real-world range of 25 miles in EV mode, so the plug-in fleet will be able to operate with zero emissions throughout the event.
The vehicles will be charged with power from Glastonbury’s solar panels and other low carbon and low emissions energy sources. Installed as part of the Festival’s sustainability strategy, its 250kWp solar array was the largest of its kind in the UK when it was commissioned in 2010 and is responsible for saving 123 tonnes of CO2 every year.
One of very few plug-in electric hybrids capable of rapid DC charging, The Defender 110 electric hybrid can charge 0-80 per cent in about 30 minutes using a rapid DC charger rated at 50kW or above. At home, it can charge 0-100 per cent in approximately 2.5 hours using a 7kW AC charger.
Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender, said: “The Defender electric hybrid’s zero-emission all-terrain capability makes it the perfect choice for Glastonbury, whatever the weather. Charging our electric hybrids with solar energy at the world’s greatest music festival shows Defender’s commitment to going anywhere and making a difference.”
The Defender 110 P400e electric hybrid has a WLTP electric range of up to 51km (32 miles) of go-anywhere driving. This delivers an expected real-world range of up to 40km (25 miles) and overall CO2 emissions from 57g/km. It offers a total real-world range of up to 760km (472 miles).
The plug-in electric hybrid has a 104PS electric motor combined with a 300PS four-cylinder petrol engine. This generates the same power as the 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine – with more torque and improved fuel consumption.
The sold-out 2023 Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts features hundreds of performers including Elton John, Guns N’ Roses, Arctic Monkeys and Lizzo across more than 100 stages and areas. It runs from 21-25 June at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset.